Attorney Wolfgang Mueller of the Farmington Hills-based Mueller law firm writes in the court complaint that Olsen knew or had reason to know that Salter, who didn't fit the witness description, wasn't involved in the Aug. 6, 2003 shooting of 36-year-old Willie Thomas, who died, and two other victims who survived.

But he pursued Salter for the purpose of expeditiously closing the homicide file, and not in the interest of justice, the lawsuit claims.

A jury found Salter guilty based largely on a "mistaken" eyewitness ID provided by the 24-year-old victim, who said in post-conviction interviews he was "never certain Mr. Salter was the shooter," according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

The lawsuit says Olsen, during his investigation, presented the victim a single picture of Salter, rather than a full photo lineup. There was no physical evidence tying Salter to the crime scene.

Another Detroit police investigator -- whom the prosecutor didn't name -- remembers the case against Salter being "very weak," but never informed prosecutors of the opinion at the time of the trial, Worthy's office said when Salter was exonerated.

The judge who ultimately exonerated Salter previously denied motions to have the conviction thrown out in 2011 and 2013.